Developing Study and

Thinking Skills
through
Context Clues

BRYAN A. POBE
 Sample LET Question:
She cannot hear the
discussion because the other
students are loquacious.
a. well-behaved
b. unruly
c. disrespectful
d. verbose
 Sample LET Question:
She cannot hear the
discussion because the other
students are loquacious.
a. well-behaved
b. unruly
c. disrespectful
d. verbose
 Sample LET Question:
Helen of Troy was famous for
her pulchritude bec. it is said
that her face launched a
thousand of ships.
a. intelligence
b. skill
c. beauty
d. status
 Sample LET Question:
Helen of Troy was famous for
her pulchritude bec. it is said
that her face launched a
thousand of ships.
a. intelligence
b. skill
c. beauty
d. status
VOCABULARY
IN
CONTEXT
What is Vocabulary in Context?
“VOCABULARY”
(words)

+
“CONTEXT”
(how those words relate to
the words around them)
How Does Vocabulary in
Context Work?
Context Clues

❑Rewording
❑Synonym
❑Antonym
❑Details
Rewording is when the
author says the word
in another way, that is
easier to understand.
 Rewording

Resentment, a feeling of
bitterness and anger, is often
felt by people who are passed
over for promotions.
 Rewording

If you wanted to find the meaning of the

word RESENTMENT the clue is right here.

Resentment, a feeling of bitterness and anger, is

often felt by people who are passed over for
promotions.
 Rewording

The Cruise family moved

from their dilapidated house,
that was old and run-down,
into a brand new home.

old and run down

What do you call a phrase
inserted in a sentence by
the use of two commas
which renames or
describes the word before
it?

APPOSITIVE PHRASE
 Synonyms

words with the same

meaning
 Synonyms

The young girl was very aloof. She

always seemed unsociable,
unapproachable, and
uninterested.

unsociable, unapproachable,
uninterested
 Synonyms

The three brothers began to

altercate over the game.
This was not the first time that
they had a dispute over it.

dispute
Antonyms

words with
opposite
meaning
 Antonyms

Dianna appeared to be a very

moral and upstanding young lady,
but those who knew her knew that
she was iniquitous.
 Antonyms

Dianna appeared to be a
very moral and upstanding
young lady, but those
who knew her knew that
she was iniquitous.
 Antonyms

The two opposite

points of view Dianna appeared to
are:
be a very
1. That Dianna is
moral and
moral and upstanding
upstanding. young lady, but
2. That she is those who knew her
iniquitous
knew that she was
iniquitous

Iniquitous means evil

and immoral.
 - but
- however
- otherwise
- even though
- on the other hand
express negation or
contrast in sentences
 Antonyms

David was very outgoing as opposed

to his coy older sister.
 Antonyms

Did you find

the hint David was very outgoing
words?
as opposed to
his coy older sister.

Coy means the

opposite of outgoing.
Details

examples or
explanations
Details

•examples
•reasons
•relationships
 Details

Father was ecstatic because

Joshua decided to go to the
college that he wanted him to.

very happy
 Details

Brian was expeditious when he left the

school building. He ran through the
halls, jumped in his car, and sped off.
 Context Clues: Details
Did you figure out
what types of details
the writer is giving
us about how Brian
left school?
Brian was expeditious when
he left the school building.
He ran through the halls,
jumped in his car, and
sped off.

fast
Types of Context
Clues

✓ Rewording
✓ Synonym
✓ Antonym
✓ Details
Context Clues: Practice
Context Clues: Practice #1
Mallery’s mom thought that the new
outfit that she had bought for her
was modish. Mallery did not want to
break it to her, but it was totally out
of style.
 Context Clues:
Practice Answer #1
This context
clue was an Mallery’s mom thought
Antonym. Here, that the new outfit
modish means that she had bought
the same as
stylish.
for her was modish.
Mallery did not want
to break it to her, but
it was totally out of
style.
 Context Clues: Practice #2

Insomnia, not being able to sleep at

night, can be linked to an excessive
intake of caffeine throughout the
day.
 Context Clues:
Practice Answer #2
The context
clue here was
Rewording. Insomnia, not
Here, insomnia
being able to
means not able
to sleep at sleep at night,
night. can be linked to
an excessive
intake of
caffeine
throughout the
day.
Context Clues: Practice #3

The woman enjoyed the savor of the

soup. It had a hint of spices
balanced with the perfect amount of
sweetness.
 Context Clues:
Practice Answer #3
The woman enjoyed This context
the savor of the clue was a Detail.
soup. It had a hint Here, savor
means the same
of spices balanced
as flavor.
with the perfect
amount of
sweetness.
Context Clues: Practice #4

The day had proven to be very torrid .

Before the sun had even risen, it was
already hot outside.
 Context Clues:
Practice Answer #4

This context
clue was a
synonym. Here,
torrid means the
same as hot.

The day had proven to be very

torrid. Before the sun had even
risen, it was already hot outside.
Context Clues: Practice #5

It is our custom that the bride and

groom only wear the finest raiment
on their wedding day.
 Context Clues:
Practice Answer #5
It is our This context
custom that clue was a Detail.
the bride and Here, raiment
groom only means clothes.
wear the
finest raiment
on their
wedding day.
 Context Clues: Practice #6

Though many types of birds fly in

groups, Eagles are birds of solitude.
 Context Clues:
Practice Answer #5

Though many types of birds fly in groups,

Eagles are birds of solitude.

This context clue was

an antonym. Here,
solitude means to be
alone.
CONTEXT
CLUES:
Let’s try!
1. The first review on the Harry Potter
movie was propitious. Many people
attended and enjoyed the movie.
Some people even saw the movie
three times!

a negative c positive
b uncertain d clear
1. The first review on the Harry Potter
movie was propitious. Many people
attended and enjoyed the movie.
Some people even saw the movie
three times!

a negative c positive
b uncertain d clear
2. Her quiet, mousy ways made us
guess at her true feelings about the
story because she kept her ideas to
herself and never spoke in the class.

a shy c kind
b boisterous d serious
2. Her quiet, mousy ways made us
guess at her true feelings about the
story because she kept her ideas to
herself and never spoke in the class.

a shy c kind
b boisterous d serious
3. He was found running down the street
after curfew, and his parents
were mulcted. The ticket read: "Illegally
in the streets at 1:00A.M." Now he would
have to pay the ticket with his own
money.
a crooked c delicate
b fined d informed
3. He was found running down the street
after curfew, and his parents
were mulcted. The ticket read: "Illegally
in the streets at 1:00A.M." Now he would
have to pay the ticket with his own
money.
a crooked c delicate
b fined d informed
4. The woman crossed her fingers as her
daughter did the cheer. She was hoping that
everything would work out for her daughter
as she vied for a position on the squad. Her
daughter wanted to be a cheerleader.

a shouted c expanded
b enclosed d tried
4. The woman crossed her fingers as her
daughter did the cheer. She was hoping that
everything would work out for her daughter
as she vied for a position on the squad. Her
daughter wanted to be a cheerleader.

a shouted c expanded
b enclosed d tried
5. The boy knew that the lake
was teeming, and overflowing with bass,
so he brought a big net to help get the
fish in the boat.

a rare c full
b enclave d sparse
5. The boy knew that the lake
was teeming, and overflowing with bass,
so he brought a big net to help get the
fish in the boat.

a rare c full
b enclave d sparse
6. It was difficult to listen to Tommy speak
because he droned on and on just like a
buzzer that won't stop buzzing.

a ideal c lively
b same tone d scared
6. It was difficult to listen to Tommy speak
because he droned on and on just like a
buzzer that won't stop buzzing.

a ideal c lively
b same tone d scared
7. The lithe girl was perfect for the
basketball team because she
was all muscle and could play
well.

a lean c thick
b cubed d eerie
7. The lithe girl was perfect for the
basketball team because she
was all muscle and could play
well.

a lean c thick
b cubed d eerie
8. Thomas went to the apogee of
the mountain, and because it
was so high, he had to take a
tank of oxygen with him.

a bottom c top
b breath d underneath
8. Thomas went to the apogee of
the mountain, and because it
was so high, he had to take a
tank of oxygen with him.

a bottom c top
b breath d underneath
9. The accoutrement that Jill used
to connect the fabric was similar
to a sewing machine, but this
one did all of the work while she
just pushed a button.
a idea c instrument
b zipper d singular
9. The accoutrement that Jill used
to connect the fabric was similar
to a sewing machine, but this
one did all of the work while she
just pushed a button.
a idea c instrument
b zipper d singular
10. The algid air seemed to suck
his breathe away as he
attempted to finish his first
snowman of the season.

a deficient c thick
b sappy d cold
10. The algid air seemed to suck
his breathe away as he
attempted to finish his first
snowman of the season.

a deficient c thick
b sappy d cold
11. Tommy was a real agog baseball
card collector. He inherited the desire
to collect cards because his dad had
a collection, too.
a. eager
b. careless
c. apart
d. fearful
11. Tommy was a real agog baseball
card collector. He inherited the desire
to collect cards because his dad had
a collection, too.
a. eager
b. careless
c. apart
d. fearful
12. Her Christmas bills added up.
After the holidays,
her lavishness was going to take
several months to pay off.
a. economy
b. praise
c. external
d. overdoing
12. Her Christmas bills added up.
After the holidays,
her lavishness was going to take
several months to pay off.
a. economy
b. praise
c. external
d. overdoing
13. It was congenial to see how she
acted toward her grandmother
because her grandmother was
always kind to her.
a. pleasing
b. nervous
c. aggravating
d. unclear
13. It was congenial to see how she
acted toward her grandmother
because her grandmother was
always kind to her.
a. pleasing
b. nervous
c. aggravating
d. unclear
14. The boy was caught stealing
from the store. His larceny caught
up with him when the owner
showed him a video tape.
a. gift
b. theft
c. lawless
d. honor
14. The boy was caught stealing
from the store. His larceny caught
up with him when the owner
showed him a video tape.
a. gift
b. theft
c. lawless
d. honor
15. The ideas she presented to the
class were clearly an
untested theory because there
had never been any research
done on it.
a. magic
b. brutal
c. indictment
d. belief
15. The ideas she presented to the
class were clearly an
untested theory because there
had never been any research
done on it.
a. magic
b. brutal
c. indictment
d. belief
6. His incessant light would
shine on the people even
after his death.
a. temporary
b. ethical
c. reformed
d. endless
16. His incessant light would
shine on the people even
after his death.
a. temporary
b. ethical
c. reformed
d. endless
17. He cut the paper precisely on
the line, and it fit perfectly in the
grooves of the picture frame.
a. exactly
b. embellish
c. outer
d. advance
17. He cut the paper precisely on
the line, and it fit perfectly in the
grooves of the picture frame.
a. exactly
b. embellish
c. outer
d. advance
18. The boy tried to justify his
actions to his mother by
explaining the reasons why he
did what he did.
a. depend
b. prove
c. strict
d. concourse
18. The boy tried to justify his
actions to his mother by
explaining the reasons why he
did what he did.
a. depend
b. prove
c. strict
d. concourse
19. She did several backbends in a
row to show how limber she was,
so that she could be chosen for
the squad.
a. enthused
b. responsive
c. likely
d. flexible
19. She did several backbends in a
row to show how limber she was,
so that she could be chosen for
the squad.
a. enthused
b. responsive
c. likely
d. flexible
20. He climbed the mountain and
stood looking over the tops of the
trees on the mountain across from
him. He was right on
the precipice and could have fallen.
a. edge
b. stiff
c. top
d. under
20. He climbed the mountain and
stood looking over the tops of the
trees on the mountain across from
him. He was right on
the precipice and could have fallen.
a. edge
b. stiff
c. top
d. under
21. If you are ambivalent with the
answers, analyze the given
problem.
a. confusion
b. innocent
c. uncertain
d. unaware
21. If you are ambivalent with the
answers, analyze the given
problem.
a. confusion
b. innocent
c. uncertain
d. unaware
22. He left the country because of
the ominous experiences he had
in the past.
a. unforgettable
b. threatening
c. ugly
d. remarkable
22. He left the country because of
the ominous experiences he had
in the past.
a. unforgettable
b. threatening
c. ugly
d. remarkable
23. Teenagers are easily
susceptible to peer influence.
a. flexible
b. inspired
c. dependable
d. inclined
23. Teenagers are easily
susceptible to peer influence.
a. flexible
b. inspired
c. dependable
d. inclined
24. My mother is always adamant
in eating breakfast before leaving
the house.
a. resolute
b. uncertain
c. forgetful
d. clueless
24. My mother is always adamant
in eating breakfast before leaving
the house.
a. resolute
b. uncertain
c. forgetful
d. clueless
25. Reading words without
understanding their meanings is
futile.
a. helpless
b. useless
c. unnecessary
d. avoidable
25. Reading words without
understanding their meanings is
futile.
a. helpless
b. useless
c. unnecessary
d. avoidable